Chittenango School District proposes safety and security in Capital Building Project

CHITTENANGO >>Chittenango School District has a host of safety and security updates it has brought to the table for local residents to vote on in the coming months.

The district held an informational meeting to go over the list of installations on Feb. 12 in the High School Auditorium. The proposal calls for a new transportation building, and addition to Bolivar Elementary, new surveillance and communications systems for all the buildings. Throughout the district the capital building project will also be replacing boilers, drinking fountains, water systems, roofs and the high school track. Hunt, an engineering firm from Horseheads, NY will be heading the project.

A big aspect of the project is that it will have no impact on the tax rate.

Advertisement

"We are going to be able to complete around $11.8 million worth of work with no impact on our tax rate," said superintendant Michael Schiedo.

One of largest portions of the project is a new transportation facility which will be built on a plot of land across New Boston Road from the current facility. The old transportation building was built in 1960, and according to Superintendant Michael Schiedo it would cost the district just shy of $3 million to repair the current facility and make it handicap accessible. The new building will take a $4.8 million chunk out the $11.8 million capital building budget but will save the district money in the long run. The new facility will feature better entrances and create less of a traffic hazard compared to the old facility.

Another major piece of the project is the addition to Bolivar elementary. Although it is still in it's conceptual phase, the addition will most likely house 4 new Kindergarten classrooms. Representatives from Hunt said that throughout the design phase, members of the community and faculty will be consulted for ideas and plans for the new buildings.

About 90% of the funding comes from State Aid. The rest of the funding comes from the capital reserve fund which was created by Chittenango District voters for projects similar to this. If the proposal is not submitted within the next few months, the project would lose 10% of that state aid which is incentive aid earmarked specifically for security upgrades.

"The timing and funding is perfect to do a project like this," Schiedo said. "We are trying to make sure the district maintains a safe and healthy environment for our students, staff and community."

The project will be put to a vote on May 21 in the middle school cafeteria.